Originally Posted by
Ray
I am only interested in democratic principle since that is tomtomed by western nations as their Holy Grail.
And because that is what has sustained my country.
In this world corruption, nepotism, crony capitalism and all the evils of society happens everywhere. Some places, less and some places, more. No country is free from it and to feel that is not true, would be another arrogance of false superiority.
As far as Ukraine is concerned, every Govt was corrupt and they all stashed away their fortunes. The last one was no better.
The Ukrainian top man fled. Now, why did he flee? Who flees when there is no danger to his person? If he had such fortunes as you claim, it would be no problems to manipulate a verdict. If he fled even then, when all was peace and quiet, then he must be daft.
Therefore, that line of argument does not gel.
I am not partisan and I don't care which side wins. Lest one feels that in India we are pro Russia, then that would be totally incorrect, given the new political and strategic equations.
I am more interested in geostrategy. Please note, that in the modern context, to organise a revolt (for the want of a better word), it requires organisation, money and weapons. There is hardly any chance of it coming to one through some mystic magic. It requires support.
For example, Solidarity persisted solely as an underground organization, supported by the Catholic Church and the US. That is documented.
Kosovo did not happen out of the blue, or for that matter, the Colour Revolutions.
It is geostrategy that pressured the rise of such events.
Likewise, for one to believe that Ukraine and Crimea are the 'will of the people' alone, it too hard to believe. Both required assistance and both got, even if by rival sides.
If indeed and if the elections have to be fair, it requires an international (and that does not mean western or Russian predominance or sponsored 'neutrals') monitoring.
Further, if all in Ukraine was with the present Govt, then how come the East Ukrainians are in revolt? I would not be surprised if Russians are encouraging them, but then there sure is a sizeable population that finds the current Ukrainian disposition not to their liking.
So let there be genuine Freedom and Democracy.
Let there be the ballot which talks and that too with monitors from non pro Western and non pro Russian countries.
I daresay, I am too far removed from history, though I concede that history is written by the victor (as is the case of WW I and WW !!) by the colonial powers (as in the case of colonies of imperial powers) and by the inclinations of the one who is writing and the Govt that gives credence to such history!
History of this conflict will surely be different from the perspective of Russian historians and that from the perspective of the Western historians.
The question will be - who is right!
Take the case of China. It was a horrid repressive regime and one to be hated.
But then it became placid and pleasant once the West was allowed a free run.
All, is but perceptions and national interests!
That is why I steer clear of all this moral claptrap and instead look at logical reasoning in the realm of a level playing field as far as it is humanly feasible.
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